Collection 10: Photographic albums and newspaper cuttings relating to Nancy Bird Walton ca. 1938-1979

PXA 7163

sub-fonds

1938-1979

Photographs, Graphic Materials

1000786

6 albums (250 photographs) - black & white; colour

Nancy Bird Walton was born in Sydney in 1915. She fell in love with flying after taking a joy flight at the age of 13 at a local fair, after which she bagan to save for official lessons. They began in 1933 under the direction of Charles Kingsford-Smith when Nancy was 17, making her the youngest Australian woman to gain a pilot's licence. One year later she obtained her commercial licence.

In 1935 Nancy received her first paid position as a pilot, flying for an air-ambulance service, known as the Far-West Children's Health Scheme. Here she faced various challenges, both technically, including the areas avilable for landing the planes, and socially, as reception from some members of the public for serving as a women was not always positive.

In 1937-1938 Walton operated a charter service in Queensland followed by a two year world tour studying civil aviation. In 1950 she founded the Australian Women's Pilots' Association.

Walton was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (Civil) in 11 June 1966 for her work as pilot to the Far West Children's Health Scheme. She was also appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia on 26 January 1990 for 'service to aviation, particularly the participation of women in aviation'.

References:

The Australian Women's Register - Walton, Nancy Bird (1915-2009) http://www.womenaustralia.info/biogs/IMP0124b.htm accessed 1 June 2016

The Pioneers - Aviation and Aeromodelling - Interdependent Evolutions and Histories http://www.ctie.monash.edu.au/hargrave/nancy_bird_walton_bio.html accessed 1 June 2016

6 photographic albums

Album 1 - descriptions transcribed from contents list included in album
1. With Charles Walton in Fiji returning to Australia in 1939. Prior to engagement in 1939.
2. Nancy and Charles engaged - Princes restaurant
3. Nancy-Bird on Golden Glam U.S.A. Woman with scray[?] introduced her to chief passer[?] on Mariposa who introduced her to Charles.
4. Charles photos of Nancy 1939
5. After marriage 16 December 1939
6. With model of Nancy's Leopard moth
7. With Lady Kingsford Smith at Southern Cross Gardens, Neutral Bay
8.Nancy with Horrie Miller pioneer aviation in W.A.
9. In Land[?]
10. After recieving 'OBE at Buckingham Palace with Burqim[?]
11. Friends
12. Queen Suzanne of the Albanians
13. Unidentified
14. Unidentified
15. Luncheon with Mrs Bob Hope?
16. Louisa Ulrich (Countries Castelle).
17. Countries Castelle
18. Pakistan Haaice[?], Elly Runhorn and family
19: Nancy [indecipherible words] Given. Mr and Mrs Gillen. Hand at marriage of Suzanne to King Leka in Spain.
20. With HRH Leka and Suzanne
21. With wedding guest English woman - wife of ambassador

Album 2 - colour photographs and newspaper cuttings. Some with captions. Descriptions taken from captions where possible.
1. Oshkosh air show
2. Oshkosh air show
3. (a) The Experimental Aviation Association meeting at Oshkosh Wisconsin, 1979
3. (b) Nancy-Bird in 'Breezy' - small plane.
4. (a) Steve and Dorothy Wittman in in front of a red plane which is parked outside a white fibro house.
4. (b) Steve and Dorothy Wittman with another gentleman inside a building with model aeroplanes hanging from the roof.
5. (a) A Caricature of Steve and Dorothy Wittman depicting her sewing and he in an aeroplane.
5. (b) A pilot's licence from 1928 for Sylvester J. Wittman
5. (c) Memorial to S.J. Wittman.
6. (a) Nancy-Bird's employee pass.
6. (b) Nancy-Bird and Thorn Griffiths standing in front of an aeroplane at Oshkosh.
7. Correspondence from the Ninety Nines Inc. to Nancy Bird Walton.
8. (a) Unidentified photograph
8. (b) Newspaper clipping
9. Portrait of Nancy at Oshkosh
10. Poem entitled 'Friends' by William G. Bradburn. Poem is signed.
11. Correspondence to Nancy-Bird Walton from the Beech Aircraft Corporation
12. (a) Nancy-Bird, Pat McEwen, and Carolyn Westerman with Olive Ann Beech
12. (b) Three of the above mentioned.
12. (c) One of the above mentioned.
13. Newspaper cutting from the Wichita Beacon, dated Mon 30 July 1979. Article entitled "Ninety-Nines history book links women pilots to past".
14. Leaflets relating to a luncheon for the Beech Aircraft Corporation
15. Nancy-Bird with younf enthusiast, Oshkosh 1979.
16. Newspaper clipping from The Post-Crescent, Appleton-Neenah-Menasha, Wis. entitled "Meet Australia's Amelia Earhart"/Kathy Walsh Nuffer. See caption below clipping.
17. Newspaper clipping continuing from item 16.
18. Newspaper clipping from The Muncie Star, dated Sun 15 July 1979. Depicts an aeroplane from the side view, with a person standing at the front of the plane.
19. Newspaper clipping entitled "Oshkosh '79 We Repeat - 'You Have to See It to Believe It" / Bill Jamieson.

Album 3 - colour and black and white photographs
1. (a) Three elderly women and two elderly men having tea and coffee.
1. (b) Older women speaking with a microphone in a hall. She is standingon a wooden stage above her audience.
2. (a) Barbara Henshaw, Bud[?] Gillies, Betty Gillies and Allen Henshaw outside a house.
2. (b) Closer shot of Barbara Henshaw, Bud[?] Gillies, Betty Gillies and Allen Henshaw, who are standing in a different formation.
2. (c) Bud[?] Gillies or Allen Henshaw in the garden outside the house.
2. (d) The house where photos of item 2 appear to have been taken.
3. (a) Black and white portrait of three unidentified women who together are cutting a cake.
3. (b) Black and white portrait of two unidentified women standing in front of a plane.
4. (a) Two unidentified people beside an aeroplane. One is holding a painting. Other passengers are in the background. The plane is largely white with two red stripes and "AVIATION CEM" can be read in the photograph.
4. (b) Unidentified woman standing in front of flowers.

Album 4 - Black and White photographs, both group and individual images. Some correspondence,
1. Group portrait of unidentified women.
2. Three unidentified women.
3. Five unidentified women.
4. Three unidentified women.
5. Three unidentified women.
6. Two unidentified women and one unidentified man.
7. One unidentified woman speaking into a microphone. Unidentified man watching her speak.
8. Twelve individual images 5 x 6 cm each one one sheet measuring 10.8 x 25.5 cm taken by Strawberry Photography. Various men and women throughout the images.
9. Twelve individual images 5 x 6 cm each one one sheet measuring 10.8 x 25.5 cm taken by Strawberry Photography. Various group images.
10. Twelve individual images 5 x 6 cm each one one sheet measuring 10.8 x 25.5 cm taken by Strawberry Photography. Both group and individual portraits.
11. Nine individual images 5 x 6 cm each one one sheet measuring 10.8 x 25.5 cm taken by Strawberry Photography. Various group images.
12. Twelve individual images 5 x 6 cm each one one sheet measuring 10.8 x 25.5 cm taken by Strawberry Photography. Both group and individual portraits.
13. Loose letter from Reg Ansett to Nancy Bird Walton from 1976.
14. Correspondence from Bill and Helen Lovelock to Nancy-Bird and Co.

Album 5 - Coloured photographs
1. Writing regarding the International Forest of Friendship
2. Two photographs of a sign for the Internal Forest of Friendship.
3. Two photographs of Doris Renninger beside her plaque.
4. Doris Renninger holding a South Korean[?] flag.
5. Betty Gilleis - President of 99's. Powder Puff Derby and Co. [indecipherible word] of first [indeicpherible word] pilots WAFS.
6. Amelia Earhart's home.
7. Amelia Earhart's car.
8. (a) Amelia Earhart's sister Muriel Morresby.
8. (b) Two pictures of Muriel Morresby's home.
9. (a) Nancy-Bird in Forrest of Friendship - seen with an Australian flag.
9. (b) Amelia Earhart's memorial.
10. (a) The Australian tree of Friendship.
10. (b) Nancy Bird plaque in walkway.
11. (a) Memory Lane in the International Forest of Frienship.
11. (b) Unidentified woman standing under a tree in the International Forest of Friendship.
11. (c) Tree in the International Forest of Friendship.

Album 6 - Black and White photographs. Descriptions taken from captions in album where possible.
1. Unidentified woman with two unidentified men standing in front of a Netherlands Indies blimp.
2. Seven portraits, both group and individual.
3. (a) Nancy-Bird with Dutch Aerobatic pilot and Prinsen Geerlings of K. LM Holand 1938.
3. (b) 2 photographs Le Bouget 1939 Paris Air show.
4. Holland 1938.
5. Florence Barwood of R.A.S., Nancy Bird amd Miles Messenger 1938. Two are standing on the plane and one is standing in front of the plane.
6. Two photographs of Nancy Bird - Maiden flight of Fokker Wulf Condor 1938.
7. With test Pilot of Messersmitt 1938.
8.Stepping out of a Messersmitt 108 at Magdeburg Germany 1938.
9. (a) Frankfurt 1938. A blimp.
9. (b) Frankfurt 1938. Sideview of a lady with a camera.
10. (a) Frankfurt 1938. Aerial shots.
10. (b) Frankfurt 1938. Streetscape.
11. (a) Nancy with Mrs Florman going by sledge to their winter home.
11. (b) On frozen lake with Kurt Bjorkvall.
11. (c) Nancy Bird with Ann Matherson of the Women's Weekly in London 1938.
12. Kurt Bjorkvall with whom I flew to Are in Northern Sweden.
13. Downtown airport New York 1939.
14. Maiden flight of DC4 from New York to Washington 1939 - Nancy Bird pictured.
15. Chief pilot of A.B.A. later Scandanivan Airlines.
16. Newspaper article entitled "History Corner".
17. Kansas City 1939 - depiciting the front of an aircraft with pilot seated. another pilot is standing below pointing at the aircraft, with two women standing beside him, both looking to where he is pointing. The aircraft has the company label "TWA".

Out of copyright: Out of copyright - applies to photographs created before 1955.
Copyright status:: In copyright - Life of the creator plus 70 years - applies to photographs created after 1 January 1955
Please acknowledge:: Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales